March 13, 2018
CDOT Hosting Free Tire Check in Montrose on Thursday
Big O Tires to Help Check Vehicles for Traction Law Compliance
MONTROSE — In Colorado, snow is hardly limited to one season. In the past two years, Colorado’s Western Slope has seen measurable snow until late April, so don’t be fooled by the warmer weather and longer days. As part of the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Winter Wise campaign, CDOT and Big O Tires will host a courtesy tire safety check on Thursday, March 15 in Montrose to inform drivers whether their tires and tread comply with Colorado’s traction law.
During inclement weather, CDOT will activate the traction law when road conditions become hazardous. When in effect, the traction law calls for all vehicles to have snow tires, mud/snow tires or a four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicle. All tires must have a minimum 1/8-inch tread. If weather conditions deteriorate further, CDOT will activate the chain law, which requires every vehicle to have chains or an alternative traction device (like AutoSock). Failure to comply with these laws can result in fines ranging from $130 to $650.
CDOT repeatedly sees highway closures due to spun-out vehicles with poor tire tread. By providing drivers a free and easy opportunity to have their tires checked, CDOT hopes to reduce the number of poorly-equipped vehicles on the road and keep all motorists safer.
“When the weather gets warmer, people tend to let their guard down when it comes to winter road conditions — but we want to remind them that some of Colorado’s biggest snowstorms happen in the spring,” said Stacia Sellers, CDOT Region 1 Communications Specialist. “Driving on snow- and ice-packed roads is extremely dangerous when vehicles do not have safe tires and proper tread. It’s better to be prepared late in the season than not at all.”
Representatives from Big O Tires will be offering free tire checks on Thursday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Big O’s Montrose store, located at 1900 S. Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401. Big O Tires technicians will be on site to discuss tire safety and inspect vehicles to determine if they meet the traction law requirements. After a quick check, technicians will provide motorists with a tire-check card that explains Colorado’s traction law requirements and informs them whether their tires comply.
“Big O Tires is dedicated to tire safety education and proud to help residents in our communities prepare for inclement weather conditions,” said Matt Greco, Big O Tires Franchise Owner. “Working with tires every day, our team understands how important proper tires and tread are to driver safety. Our Big O Tires locations offer complimentary tire checks to Colorado drivers year-round.”
Last month, CDOT partnered with MasterDrive to demonstrate how car performance improves drastically as tire tread increases by putting three identical compact cars, each with different tire treads, on an ice rink. The three cars—one with low-tread tires, one with mud- and snow-designated tires and one with snow tires—were pitted against each other to show acceleration and stopping distance. No surprise, the vehicle with snow tires was the first to come to a complete stop. View photo and video footage from the demonstration here.
CDOT’s Winter Wise campaign focuses on education, tools and resources to help keep drivers safe on Colorado’s winter roads. To learn more and view helpful tips for winter driving, visit winter.codot.gov.